Biopsychology / Edition 8

by John P.J. Pinel

Overview

B> Written in a friendly and engaging manner, Pinel's Biopsychology clearly presents the fundamentals of the study of the biology of behavior, but it makes the topics personally and socially relevant to the reader. The fourth edition has been thoroughly updated and includes references to the major recent developments in the rapidly changing field of biopsychology. New topics have been introduced, but Pinel's book continues the tradition that has made it a successful book: a strong emphasis on behavior, a beautiful and accurate illustration package, and the straight-forward and integrative presentation of material. The following four features aid in the retention of the material: bold-faced key terms with marginal definitions, study exercises within chapters, Food-for-Thought discussion questions at end of chapter, and helpful appendices. The true-life case of Professor P., found in Chapter 6, introduces the reader to the topic related to brain damage. Follow the case of Professor P. as he recognizes the symptoms of brain damage and correctly predicts the placement of his own brain tumor. Because of the personal style with which Pinel writes, the reader will likely (and correctly) guess that Professor P. is the author himself, John Pinel. Includes new or expanded coverage of dozens of topics, including: cognitive neuroscience, evolution, the human genome project, human brain scanning, genetic engineering, search of a Parkinson's gene, melatonin and sleep, functional brain imaging and language, and the diathesis-stress model. For anyone interested in the biological aspects of psychology.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780205832569
Publisher:	Pearson
Publication date:	11/02/2010
Edition description:	Older Edition
Pages:	608
Product dimensions:	8.70(w) x 10.80(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

John Pinel, the author of Biopsychology , obtained his Ph.D. from McGill University in Montreal and worked briefly at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, before taking a faculty position at the University of British Columbia, where he is currently Professor Emeritus. Professor Pinel is an award-winning teacher and the author of over 200 scientific papers. However, he feels that Biopsychology is his major career-related accomplishment. “It ties together everything I love about my job; students, teaching, writing, and research.”

Pinel attributes much of his success to his wife Maggie who is an artist and professional designer. Over the years, they have collaborated on many projects, and the quality of Biopsychology’s illustrations is largely attributable to her skill and effort.

Table of Contents

Each chapter ends with "Conclusion," "Food for Thought," "Key Terms," and "Additional Readings."

1. Biopsychology as a Neuroscience.
What Is Biopsychology?
What Is the Relation between Biopsychology and the Other Disciplines of Neuroscience?
What Types of Research Characterize the Biopsychological Approach?
What Are the Divisions of Biopsychology?
Converging Operations: How Do Biopsychologists Work Together?
Scientific Inference: How Do Biopsychologists Study the Unobservable Workings of the Brain?
What Is Bad Science, and How Do You Spot It?

2. Evolution, Genetics, and Experience: Asking the Right Questions about the Biology of Behavior.
Thinking about the Biology of Behavior: From Dichotomies to Relations and Interactions.
Human Evolution.
Fundamental Genetics.
Behavioral Development: The Interaction of Genetic Factors and Experience.
The Genetics of Human Psychological Differences.

3. The Anatomy of the Nervous System.
General Layout of the Nervous System.
Cells of the Nervous System.
Neuroanatomical Techniques and Directions.
Spinal Cord.
The Five Major Divisions of the Brain.
Major Structures of the Brain.

4. Neural Conduction and Synaptic Transmission.
The Neuron's Resting Membrane Potential.
Generation and Conduction of Postsynaptic Potentials.
Integration of Postsynaptic Potentials and Generation of Action Potentials.
Conduction of Action Potentials.
Synaptic Transmission: Chemical Transmission of Signals from One Neuron to Another.
TheNeurotransmitters.
Pharmacology of Synaptic Transmission.

5. What Biopsychologists Do: The Research Methods of Biopsychology.

Part 1: Methods of Studying the Nervous System.
Methods of Visualizing the Living Human Brain.
Recording Human Psychophysiological Activity.
Invasive Physiological Research Methods.
Pharmacological Research Methods.
Genetic Engineering.

Part 2: Behavioral Research Methods of Biopsychology.
Neuropsychological Testing.
Behavioral Methods of Cognitive Neuroscience.
Biopsychological Paradigms of Animal Behavior.

6. Human Brain Damage and Animal Models.
Causes of Brain Damage.
Neuropsychological Diseases.
Animal Models of Human Neuropsychological Diseases.

7. The Visual System: From Eye to Cortex.
Light Enters the Eye and Reaches the Retina.
The Retina and Translation of Light into Neural Signals.
From Retina to Primary Visual Cortex.
Seeing Edges.
Seeing Color.

8. Mechanisms of Perception, Conscious Awareness, and Attention.
Principles of Sensory System Organization.
Cortical Mechanisms of Vision.
Audition.
Somatosensation: Touch and Pain.
The Chemical Senses: Smell and Taste.
Selective Attention.

9. The Sensorimotor System.
Three Principles of Sensorimotor Function.
Sensorimotor Association Cortex.
Secondary Motor Cortex.
Primary Motor Cortex.
Cerebellum and Basal Ganglia.
Descending Motor Pathways.
Sensorimotor Spinal Circuits.
Central Sensorimotor Programs.

10. The Biopsychology of Eating and Drinking.

Part I. Hunger, Eating, and Body Weight Regulation.
Digestion and Energy Flow.
Theories of Hunger and Eating: Set Points versus Positive Incentives.
Factors That Determine What, When, and How Much We Eat.
Physiological Research on Hunger and Satiety.
Body Weight Regulation: Set Points versus Settling Points.

Part II: Thirst, Drinking, and Body Fluid Regulation.
Regulation of the Body's Fluid Resources.
Deprivation-Induced Drinking: Cellular Dehydration and Hypovolemia.
Spontaneous Drinking: Drinking in the Absence of Water Deficits.
Drinking and Satiety.

Part III: Disorders of Consumption.
Human Obesity.
Anorexia Nervosa.

11. Hormones and Sex.
The Neuroendocrine System.
Hormones and Sexual Development.
Effects of Gonadal Hormones on Adults.
The Hypothalamus and Sexual Behavior.
Sexual Orientation, Hormones, and the Brain.

12. Sleep, Dreaming, and Circadian Rhythms.
The Physiological and Behavioral Correlates of Sleep.
REM Sleep and Dreaming.
Why Do We Sleep?
Circadian Sleep Cycles.
Effects of Sleep Deprivation.
Recuperation and Circadian Theories of Sleep Combined.
Neural Mechanisms of Sleep.
The Circadian Clock: Neural and Molecular Mechanisms.
Drugs That Affect Sleep.
Sleep Disorders.
The Effects of Long-Term Sleep Reduction.

13. Drug Addiction and Reward Circuits in the Brain.
Basic Principles of Drug Action.
Role of Learning in Drug Tolerance and Withdrawal Effects.
Five Commonly Abused Drugs.
Biopsychological Theories of Addiction.
Reward Circuits in the Brain.
Neural Mechanisms of Addiction.

14. Memory and Amnesia.
Amnesic Effects of Bilateral Medial Temporal Lobectomy.
Amnesia of Korsakoff's Syndrome.
Memory Deficits Associated with Prefrontal Cortex Damage.
Amnesia of Alzheimer's Disease.
Amnesia after Concussion.
Neuroanatomy of Object-Recognition Memory.
Hippocampus and Memory for Spatial Location.
Memory Structures of the Brain:
A Summary.

15. Neuroplasticity: Development, Learning, and Recovery from Brain Damage.
Phases of Neural Development.
Effects of Experience on Neural Development.
Neural Bases of Learning and Memory in Simple Systems.
Neural Degeneration, Regeneration, and Reorganization.
Therapeutic Implications of Neuroplasticity.

16. Lateralization, Language, and the Split Brain.
Lateralization of Function: Methods and Basic Findings.
The Split Brain.
Differences between the Left and Right Hemispheres.
Cortical Localization of Language:
The Wernicke-Geschwind Model.
Cortical Localization of Language: Evaluation of the Wernicke-Geschwind Model.
Cortical Localization of Language: Functional Brain-Imaging Research.

17. Biopsychology of Stress and Illness.
Biopsychology of Emotion.
Fear, Defense, and Aggression.
Stress and Psychosomatic Disorders.
Schizophrenia.
Affective Disorders: Depression and Mania.
Anxiety Disorders.

Epilogue.

Appendices.

References.

Indexes.

Editorial Reviews

Excerpt from a letter to the author (used with permission):

Dr. Pinel, OUTSTANDING!!!!!

I am a student at Walden University in the PhD Psychology program, I live in Michigan. I must admit, when I first heard that I would have to take Biopsychology I was not happy as I gasped for breath. I had already made up in my mind that it would prove to be a difficult course and I would probably have to drop the course. However, surprisingly, I found that your ease of writing in talking with the student proved me wrong. I actually LOVED the textbook. It was as if you were talking right to me in a manner in which I could easily comprehend. I never thought of learning about the human brain before taking the class, but must admit, it has to this point in my program been one of my favorites.

I wanted to say thank you, thank you, thank you. You opened up a new world to me. I just started teaching at a local college this year and I tell you, having taken Biopsychology has truly prepared me to teach general psychology and other classes within the counseling cohort. I am still amazed at how much information I have retained due to the colorful illustrations and ease of reading. Though I am in a doctorate program, and the program is truly rigourous, having read your text was a breath of fresh air. Top quality education with all of the learning tools needed for todays adult learners. Continued success to you on your endeavors. By the way, thanks for all of the stories including yours that you shared.

Sincerely grateful,"

- Michelle Brown, Ph.D. candidate at Walden University

---

Excerpt from a letter to the author (used with permission):

"I am currently a 2nd year Psychology student at the University of Western Ontario and I am taking a Biopsychology class...I have to say what an amazing text this is...

I recently switched majors from physiology/medical sciences to psychology and I was confused for a while about what I liked more: biological sciences or psychology. I didn't know I could combine them until I read your textbook. Your book was inspirational for me and I now have a clearer, more defined idea of what I would like to do with my degree and future endeavours. Thank you very much for writing such an interesting textbook that was so clearly aimed to help students understand and appreciate biopsychology. I honestly attribute my new-found interest in biopsychology to the amazing work you put in to this text. Too bad I am several provinces away from B.C, I would have loved to be in one of your classes! Thank you again and I hope to read more of your work in the future."

- Tannis, student at University of Western Ontario

---

Excerpt from a letter to the author (used with permission):
"I am doing a Graduate Diploma in Psychology in Brisbane, Australia and just wanted to say that your textbook is particularly interesting and stimulating. I can see that there is passion and clarity in every chapter and your own experiences with the tumour as relayed in Chapter 10 was fascinating. It’s good to know that some texts can have that “human” factor, and this really makes an impact on the reader. "

- Simon, student at Brisbane, Australia

---

Excerpt from a letter to the author (used with permission):

"Dr. Pinel:

I just completed a Physiological Psychology class at Chapman University College. Your Biopsychology text was required for the class. It was the BEST textbook I have ever used. I'm 51 years old and have taken many classes in my life so that's saying a heck of lot!!! Believe me, I have certainly never written to the author to complement him on the text. You made me laugh out loud on more than one occasion.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for making a tough class enjoyable."

- Eileen, student at Chapman University

---

Excerpt from a letter to the author (used with permission):

"I have just finished reading your book and wanted to thank you for writing it. I like the way you presented the information as if you were "chatting" with me. It was very easy to understand and a fun read. I especially liked all the vignettes and diagrams. They helped me to visualize and understand the topic you were discussing. I also reviewed the CD after every chapter I read and found it to be a helpful tool in preparing for my exams. Before taking this class I was very nervous and unsure of whether or not I would be able to grasp the information. Now class is almost over and I have a 95% in my class. I am taking my final exam tomorrow and I am confident I will do well. I feel that my understanding of the information in your book was due to the way it was written. It was very relaxed and personal, a goal you strived for in writing this book. So again, thanks for sharing your knowledge with me."

- Priscilla, student at Chapman University

---

Excerpt from a letter to the author (used with permission):

"Dr. Pinel,

I am a student who has just completed a Biopsychology course designed around your textbook (6th ed.) at Birmingham-Southern College. To confess my initial thoughts, I largely began this course because it is one of the requirements of my Psychology major and I gazed rather unexcitedly upon the cover of your textbook, assuming it to be like some of the other repetitive, over-written books I had become accustomed to during my three years at this college. However, as I delved a little deeper into the subject matter, exploring topics from sex and hormones to sleep cycles to neuroplasticity, I began to realize that your textbook is unlike any I had ever used. Not only is the research you include very pertinent to the subject and thought-provoking, but you seem to take the time to include personal notes, stories, and anecdotes that truly set your work apart from other texts. I can tell that Psychology is a field that really excites you, and in turn, I am more excited about my major. I just wanted to send you this small token of my graditude and a thanks for changing my mind about Psychology.

- Jeff Tullis, Birmingham-Southern College"

---

Excerpt from a letter to the author (used with permission):

"Dr. Pinel:

What a fabulous textbook on neuropsychology. I never thought I would use the words "fabulous textbook" and "neuropsychology" in the same sentence, but there it is.

I can't tell you how surprised and delighted I was to read the book you wrote. The topic can be a bit obtuse, (there is an understatement!), but you have an incredible talent for making it not just tolerable, but interesting and even compelling.

Anyway, since I tell everyone else about what a wonderful book Biopsychology is I thought it only appropriate that I tell you as well. Thank you for writing such a profound and easily understood book about a topic that is so challenging to comprehend."

-Vic Napier

From the Publisher

Suitable as a primary text in a one- or two-semester course in biopsychology, this volume strives to distinguish itself by emphasizing the importance of behavior and providing extensive coverage of clinical and human research. Provides all the customary learning tools of a modern textbook (boldface terms, marginal definitions, exercises, discussion questions, and appendices), as well as good-quality color illustrations. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews